Armando Iannucci’s David Copperfield Adaptation Kicks Off London Film Festival 2019

The biggest film event in the UK is officially a go – last night saw the BFI London Film Festival 2019 officially begin, bringing some of the most exciting, original and innovative films from across the world to the capital. And kicking it all off was the latest work from Armando Iannucci, following up his brilliantly bleak historical comedy The Death Of Stalin with something altogether different – a comedically-inflected take on a Charles Dickens classic.

The Personal History Of David Copperfield casts Dev Patel as the titular character who tries to reinvent himself as a man of elevated status in Victorian London, in a faithful but contemporary-feeling adaptation of the 19th century novel. Patel is joined on screen by the likes of Tilda Swinton, Hugh Laurie, Peter Capaldi, Ben Whishaw, Gwendoline Christie, Rosalind Eleazar and more – and several cast members hit the red carpet for the opening night of the festival.

The BFI London Film Festival 2019 will continue through to 13 October, with plenty more noteworthy Galas to come – including Rian Johnson’s murder mystery Knives Out, Tom Hanks-starring Mr. Rogers movie A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood, Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit, and Empire’s own gala, Cory Finley’s Bad Education. Oh, and the festival will close out with a little film called The Irishman from an up-and-comer called Martin Scorsese. Keep an eye on that one.